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Assange should be protected by international law, in his bid for asylum in Ecuador

Assange could go to international court THE AUSTRALIAN : AAP August 23, 2012 JULIAN Assange’s legal team will likely apply to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to get the activist out of London to diplomatic asylum in Ecuador.

Former judge at Spain’s top criminal court, and head of Mr Assange’s legal team, Baltasar Garzon, says they are exploring a number of ways to guarantee his safety.

The ICJ is the world’s top arbitration body for disputes between states.

Speaking through an interpreter on the sidelines of the International Council of Archives Congress in Brisbane, Mr Garzon said the United Kingdom is bound by international law to offer his client safe passage to asylum.

The UK could be ordered into negotiations with Ecuador if the ICJ
finds in favour of an application. The lawyer said they would request
many provisional measures be taken by the UK, on humanitarian grounds,
to guarantee Mr Assange’s safety.

Mr Garzon would not elaborate on what they might be.

“Mr Assange does not refuse to being tried in Sweden,” he said.

Ecuador has requested guarantees from Sweden, before and after it
granted asylum, that Mr Assange not be handed over to the US in
relation to Wikileaks’ activities.

“When that guarantee comes there won’t be any issues – that’s very
simple, we don’t need any further explanation or elaboration.”

The legal team has also requested that a Swedish prosecutor come to
London to interview Mr Assange in Ecuador’s embassy.

However, in Stockholm, Swedish prosecutors ruled out travelling to
London to question Mr Assange over the alleged sex crimes even though
the WikiLeaks founder’s lawyer said he had key information relating to
the matter…..
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/assange-could-go-to-international-court/story-fn3dxiwe-1226457049265

August 24, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general